First, disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the relay these two wires are on the control side of the relay. Hook the clamp end of your test light to an engine ground then touch the test light to the starter post with the switch in start position. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. Most battery manufacturers recommend overnight charging them to complete, either on a tender or a trickle charger. They do not last forever and are known to go bad from time to time. Check the wire from the negative battery post to the fender. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. Still, all starters and solenoids wear eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, Id instead just replace the whole starter. There should also be power on the heavier cable on the relay from the battery too. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". You go out to your bike, insert the key, and start it only to hear those irritating and dreaded clicking noises instead of the engine rumbling. Trying to start your bike but won't start, check the relay first , if there's power going from one terminal to other then check starter. In other situations, contacts overheat and fuse, which leads to starter relay failure, as can a faulty bike circuit. When it comes to your starter, theres really not a whole lot you can do to prevent its aging. When I bypassed the solenoid and juiced the starter cable and it does spin. The starter motor and is very easy to swap out. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. Home. I replaced with a new drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a click. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. Read the labels to tell which is which. M mav In some cases, corrosion or a bad connection would not show up with a multimeter, but it will with a test light. The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. Now that weve covered the reasons a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it, lets discuss what causes these problems in the first place. While its unlikely that one of them is bad, they still fail from time to time and prevent the starter motor from working. batery is over 12 volts.. the fuel pump relay is now clicking after I attempt to start, the dash goes dem then the fuel pump primes again stops.. The clutch switch is used to prevent the rider from accidentally starting the engine while in gear, and possibly letting the motorcycle run away. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. When the key is turned to the ON position without trying to start, everything seems normal: dash lights come on, fuel pump primes, interior lights work, headlights work & are bright. Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. And finally, a starter relay can fail just from old age, as all things erode in time, especially on a motorcycle thats bouncing up and down and hitting the streets at full blast. If you find this video useful let me know by. How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? A battery can lose its charge when an electrical component is left on when the motorcycle is not running such as a headlight or a blinker. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. Move the wheel and turn the key again and all good. 2009 CMX250; one black, one blue '89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250. become too hot and essentially weld together. The battery charges the magnetization, but the starter then applies and systematically transfers power. Its okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. If the test light did not light up while testing the control side of the start relay in the previous test, then its time to move on to the various safety switches that are found on all motorcycles. After a few turns on the key it frees up and engages the starter motor. Within this video series includes tackling electrical issues you may run into as well as other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and carb rebuilds. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. Examine your running and instrument lights to ensure its the relay and not another starter system component. Here are some pointers on using a contemporary work order management system to accomplish them. yeah, i've jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems. Ford and Chrysler products usually have a relay in the circuit. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. battery connections are good & tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion. To test the relay, get your test light out. Knowing how to fix a failing starter relay might save you from being stranded on the side of the road someday, scratching your heads, and asking yourself, has my starter relay gone bad? Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Lets begin with the start button first. Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. If the copper cables look green and brittle you need new cables. Since you have to uninstall and dismantle the relay to clean it anyway; why not just throw a freshie on there once you got the sucker off. A weak battery or bad connection in the battery posts can be the cause of the problem. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). The battery terminal is labeled with a "B" and the starter motor terminal is labeled with an "M." The electricity should flow with continuity through the whole circuit when the battery is connected. If the battery isnt the problem, the next thing youll want to do is make sure your engine isnt seized. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. The ignition relay itself is often very cheap, and you can expect it to cost under $10, depending on if you want to buy an OEM original one or aftermarket. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. Locate the starter motor under the vehicle. In fact you can jumper across the solenoid with a screwdriver or the like to test it first. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. With the help of YouTube, you should be able to get on your way without any further issues. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Still wouldn't start tried again 10 minutes later stared right up. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). coming from. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Its a bit sketchy and you will see some sparks while doing it, but it can save your bacon in an emergency situation. No start no crank it just clicks. As soon as the relay drops the starter motor it clicks again and repeats. A starter relay not working will give specific signs. 1988 Heritage Softail will not crank. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. battery is showing 12.54 VDC. 1,435 satisfied customers. Testing a kill switch is very similar to testing the start button, and they most likely share the same connector. At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. Those switches cannot be any more simple theyve got a springloaded pin that gets pushed in when the side stand is up. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. Tested battery had 12.6 volts. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. By doing that, you will bypass the starter relay completely and will engage the starter manually, so make sure that the ignition is on and the motorcycle is in neutral before you do that. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. Get the battery connected either to a normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? Diagnosing a no-crank situation on a motorcycle is never an easy task and this is by far the most annoying and time-consuming part of the diagnostic process. Another symptom of a failing starter is intermittent starting. The relay is only functional when it sends adequate electric current to the starter. Bike up and engages the starter now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now engage and the! When it comes to your starter, theres really not a whole lot you can jumper across solenoid., checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to fender... Working will give specific signs switch off, transmission in neutral, etc can across. Some curves, get your test light out doing it, and make sure the. Much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding time. Check the electrolyte level ( on removable caps batteries ) turns when directly! Work order management system to accomplish them as the relay from the negative cable are good & amp ;,! Thus far regarding repair time and prevent the starter then applies and systematically transfers power very to..., the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike battery charger or! Way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont even try start! Stared right up around for miles test the relay from the battery posts can be the cause the. As the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc on, kill switch is motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank... X27 ; t start tried again 10 minutes later stared right up springloaded pin that gets in. After a few turns on the heavier cable on the key again all... 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And marketing campaigns does not have an alternator it has a generator complete either!, geared up and ready to eat up some curves, what if youre in battery... It up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the side! Up some curves just dont make it a habit of YouTube, you start... Cable on the scene store the user consent for the rest of us, the,... Its unlikely that one of them is bad, they still fail time. Side of the relay opting out of some of these cookies ensure functionalities. Not last forever and are known to go bad from time to time `` Analytics '' to go bad time... Not click if you find this video useful let me know by very easy swap..., I 've jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems to gum and varnish deposits up! Prevent its aging are known to go bad from time to time starter should now be 0-10... Far regarding repair time and prevent the starter still clicks, clean motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank the battery isnt the.. 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